Unseasonably low temperatures with heavy rainfall and even snow in some parts of Spain are having a dramatic effect on supplies of vegetables.
“It has been very cold for the last two weeks,” said Quique Oliver of exporter Agriveg. “In some parts of the Mediterranean coast of Spain, temperatures have been just 3°C or 4°C in the mornings. We have also had a lot of rain, particularly over last weekend.”
New plantings have been suffering most and the weather has slowed plant development in almost all vegetable crops including broccoli, celery, aubergines and capsicum.
The effects are being felt in the marketplace and broccoli prices climbed to 960p for 6kg on Western International market - a rise of £3 on last week and expected to go higher. “It is not just broccoli,” said Oscar Wilson of Davis (Louth) Ltd. “Prices for cauliflower from France have doubled in price to 900p for 12s.” He added that it is not even a question of paying more, but that even getting hold of sufficient supplies is impossible. “Our customers are being understanding,” said Wilson. “But what choice have they got? The product is just not there.”
However, a different picture is emerging in Murcia in south-east Spain. Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca, secretary general of growers’ association Asaja Murcia, has welcomed the cold snap. “The drop in temperatures and the rainfall is serving to regulate production,” he said, pointing to the benefits for field vegetables and salads as well as fruit trees and citrus.
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